Friday, May 02, 2014Last Update: 5:51 AM PT

Woman Sues Moving Company for Nightmare

HOUSTON (CN) - A moving company referred a woman to a drug addict with a long rap sheet who stole her car and trashed her stuff, the miffed customer claims in court. Rebecca Chambers sued American Knights Moving and Storage in Harris County Court. American Knights is the only defendant. Chambers says she called American Knights' Houston office in January 2013 to arrange her move from North Carolina to Florida. "She communicated to American Knights that it was imperative that the movers arrive on February 16 as she had to be moved and available for her job on the following Monday," the complaint states. But American Knights said "there was no truck available and they could not be there until mid-day on the 17th," Chambers says. American Knights referred her to (nonparty) Larry Hinnant, who agreed to move her belongings and car for $1,950, she says in the lawsuit. "In spite of his contracting to deliver Chambers' items on Sunday, February 17, 2013, Chambers' household goods and car did not arrive," the complaint states. "On Friday, February 22, 2013 Chambers reported her car as stolen and spoke with Officer Woldriff with the Raleigh Police Department, who told her that Hinnant had five unresolved cases of theft, had multiple arrest warrants and had no good address on file because the last address was a rehab house." Hinnant delivered Chambers' things the next day, she says, but "every item was damaged or ruined" and a new washer and dryer were missing. "One of the two men unloading the truck approached Chambers to tell her that he only answered a Craig's list ad on Thursday and he didn't want any trouble. He told her Hinnant was driving her car as his personal vehicle," according to the complaint. Chambers says she recovered the vehicle two months later, but Hinnant had trashed it so badly she couldn't afford to repair it so she surrendered it to the lien holder. "Chambers has learned that Hinnant has more than fifty (50) criminal charges and five open cases that are under investigation," the complaint states. "He is a known drug addict and his last known address is a halfway house. Some of the charges are for posing as a legitimate moving company and stealing valuable items." Not only did Chambers lose her car, she says, she also "lost her job as she had to request two days off when she was expecting delivery of her belongings." In the midst of this nightmare, Chambers says, she called American Knights, whose agent told her he had recommended Hinnant because his was the first number that came up on an Internet search. Chambers seeks punitive damages for negligence, deceptive trade, and negligent misrepresentation. She is represented by Steven Stewart of Houston. American Knights did not respond to a request for comment.